Child Protection Officer

The UN Volunteer will serve within the MONUSCO Child Protection Section, which is responsible for monitoring, documenting, and reporting child protection concerns, including grave violations against children. The section works closely with partner organizations, state services, and UN agencies—particularly UNICEF and other members of the Country Task Force on the Monitoring and Reporting Mechanism (MRM)—to ensure accurate, timely, and ethical reporting that informs child protection interventions and advocacy in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
This assignment supports the implementation of the Children and Armed Conflict (CAAC) mandate, which aims to strengthen child protection systems, enhance collaboration with the DRC Government on the implementation of the Action Plan to Prevent and End the Recruitment of Children and other grave violations, and ensure the effective functioning of the Joint UN–DRC Government Technical Working Group (JTWG) on children and armed conflict at the national level. The UNV role contributes to MONUSCO’s broader child protection objectives and aligns with its global objective to promote the safety, rights, and well‑being of children affected by conflict.

Under the direct supervision of the Child Protection Team Leader, the UNV Child Protection Officer will undertake the following tasks:

Mainstreaming Child Protection within mission components:
• Support the mainstreaming of Child Protection into all aspects, activities, strategies, policies and training programs of MONUSCO
• Work directly with other MONUSCO components, including the UN Police, Military Liaison Officers, Human Rights, DDRRS, ROLSI, etc. to integrate a child-conscious approach into the overall work of the mission,
• Provide training on child rights and child protection to military, police and civilian staff of the mission.

Advocacy and Co-ordination:
• Work collaboratively with the DRC national Government on the implementation of the Action Plan to Prevent and End the Recruitment of Children and other grave violations and ensure the effective functioning of the Joint UN–DRC Technical Working Group (JTWG) on children and armed conflict.
• Participate and contribute inputs into the Child Protection Working Group (CPWG) as well as other co-ordination mechanisms, including national counterparts and UN Agencies;
• Liaison with relevant national counterparts, civil society organizations, UN/Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO) actors and other relevant child protection actors in ensuring adequate response to violations committed against children.

Monitoring and Reporting Mechanism (MRM):
• Participate in the implementation of the MRM as per the provision of UN SCR 1612 (2005);
• Undertake field missions to verify allegations on child rights violations;
• Ensure timely delivery of a variety of reports, briefing notes, talking points and any other communications in compliance with the Section mandate.

Perform other related duties as may be required.